Top 10 in the BOOTE EXCLUSIV ranking: The world’s largest motor yachts

Uske Berndt

, Sören Gehlhaus

· 30.08.2024

10. Opera: The Lürssen giant is only almost a new ship – the 146-metre vessel is based on the ‘Sassi’, which was almost completely destroyed by a major fire in the Bremen floating dock in September 2018. The wreck was eventually brought back to Hamburg, where the original metalwork had already been carried out. Despite the disaster, the owner remained loyal to both the shipyard and the design. His new vessel quickly took shape again and was transported to Bremen-Berne for outfitting, where a soprano sang Puccini’s aria ‘Chi il bel sogno’ at the launch in March 2023. The overall design was provided by the British designer Terence Disdale. Her owner, believed to be from Dubai, sails the world’s oceans at speeds of up to 20 knots, carrying just under 50 overnight guests.

9. Prince Abdul Aziz: When it is not moored in its home port of Jeddah, the yacht, which can accommodate more than 60 guests, frequently sails the Mediterranean. Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had the state yacht built in Helsingør, Denmark, in the early 1980s. Following the death of the Saudi King, Crown Prince Abdullah ibn Abd al-Aziz took charge; most recently, his son Abdul Aziz bin Fahd had command of the 4,620 gross tonne ‘small’ Giga.

8. A+: The former ‘Topaz’ appears to remain in the possession of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayid Al Nahyan. The son of Zayid bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and has also commissioned ‘Blue’ (5th place) from Lürssen. Since the name change just over five years ago, there have been very few photographs of ‘A+’, the longest yacht designed by Tim Heywood. The design of the lower hull edge is reminiscent of a warship.

7. Al Said: It is rare for state yachts to be officially offered for sale through brokers. This was the case with the “Al Said” following the death of Qabus bin Said, Sultan of Oman. Black Orange Yachts listed the 15,850-gross-tonne colossus on behalf of Bin Said’s successor, Haitham ibn Tariq, but only for a short time. In June 2022, the Lürssen yacht disappeared from the market and is said to have been acquired by the Qatari royal family – complete with a boardroom and a disco.

6. Dilbar: In April 2022, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) seized the 16 Gross Tons vessel. At that time, the Espen-Øino-designed yacht had already been at Lürssen Yacht Refit & Services since 2020 for its routine five-year inspection. It appears that various works were subsequently carried out on board. Among the on-board amenities is a 25-metre-long swimming pool.

10 Images

Photo: Giovanni Romero / theyachtphoto.com

Whether it’s a sailing yacht or a motor yacht: everyone out on the water is curious and wants to know which giant can be spotted from afar. Here are the 10 largest motor yachts in the world and their fascinating stories in the BOOTE EXCLUSIV ranking

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10th place: Opera

Photo: Klaus JordanOpera

Length: 146.35 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2023
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: diesel-electric

9th place: Prince Abdul Aziz

Photo: Peter SeyfferthPrince Abdul Aziz

Length: 147.00 m
Shipyard: Helsingør Skibsværft, 1984
Designers (exterior, interior): Helsingør Skibsværft, Maierform
Propulsion: SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines, 2 x 5,740 kW

8th place: A+

Photo: Peter SeyfferthA+

Length: 147.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2012
Designers (exterior, interior): Tim Heywood, Terence Disdale
Propulsion: SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines, 2 × 5,678 kW

7th place: Al Said

Photo: Claus SchäfeAl Said

Length: 155.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2008
Designer (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, RWD
Propulsion: MTU diesel, 2 x 8,200 kW

6th place: Dilbar

Photo: Peter SeyfferthDilbar

Length: 156.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2016
Designer (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, Winch Design
Propulsion: Wärtsilä, diesel-electric, 30,000 kW

5th place: Blue

Photo: Carl GrollBlue

Length: 160.60 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2022
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: MTU, diesel-electric, unknown

4th place: Dubai

Photo: Ralf GrabbertDubai

Length: 162.00 m
Shipyard: Platinum Yachts, 2006
Designer (exterior, interior):
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 4 x 6323 kW

3rd place: Eclipse

Photo: Peter SeyfferthEclipse

Length: 163.00 m
Shipyard: Blohm+Voss, 2010
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 4 x 7,400 kW

2nd place: Fulk al Salamah

Photo: Fraser GowFulk al Salamah

Length: 164.00 m
Shipyard: Mariotti, 2016
Designers (exterior, interior): Dölker + Voges, De Jorio
Drive: unknown

1st place: Azzam

Photo: Giovanni RomeroAzzam

Length: 180.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2013
Designers (exterior, interior): Nauta Design, Christophe Leoni
Propulsion: 2 x diesel engines, 2 x gas turbines, 70,000 kW

You can find the top 100 motor yachts and their stories on the website of our sister magazine:

BOOTE EXCLUSIV Ranking: The 200 largest motor yachts in the world

Uske Berndt

Editor News & Panorama

Uske was born just outside Volkswagen in 1970 and tested various small boats with sails through her boyfriend (now husband 😊) on a quarry pond. Her studies in Kiel took her to the Baltic Sea with boats of all kinds and eventually to a regatta from Hong Kong to Mauritius via the Academic Sailing Club. Her teacher training ended at the Burda School of Journalism in Munich instead of in the classroom and finally at Boote Exclusiv. After a long break and various stories about house building, she returned to Delius Klasing and has been filling the magazine with long stories about large ships ever since. A family-owned H-boat was quickly sold again as the mother realized that sailing with two small children was neither relaxing nor fun.

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Top 10 in the BOOTE EXCLUSIV ranking: The world’s largest motor yachts

10th place: Opera

9th place: Prince Abdul Aziz

8th place: A+

7th place: Al Said

6th place: Dilbar

5th place: Blue

4th place: Dubai

3rd place: Eclipse

2nd place: Fulk al Salamah

1st place: Azzam

You can find the top 100 motor yachts and their stories on the website of our sister magazine:

Uske Berndt

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